Alarm system



M. T. SLIMAN ALARM SYSTEM June 29, 1965 Filed Aug. 15, 1962 l LIL INVENTOR.

United States Patent O &192513 ALARM SYTEM Michael T. Stina an, 326 W. Capital Ave., `West Sacramento, Caii. Filed Aug. 13, 1962, Ser. Ne. 216,497 1 Claim. (Ci. 349-236) This invention relates to an alarm system, and has as its primary object the provision of means, in association with an electrical appliance, such as a television, radio set, lamp, or other such appliance as may normally be contained in a furnished room whereby when the appliance is unplugged or disconnected from its source of electricity an audible, visual, or other suitable alarm is actuated. V

A further object of the invention is the provision of an alarm of this character which is normally invisible or disguised, so that the potential thiet ot the appliance will not be forewarned, and will consequently be prevented from taking any steps to circumvent the actuation of the alarm. i

A further object of the invention is the provision of an alarm of this character which may be readily and expeditiously installed in any hotel, motel, rooming house, or other room wherein the furnishings are rented to transents with the room.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and utilize.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partially schematic View of one form of alarm system constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 showing a modified form of connection of the alarm system.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional View taken through an outlet box, a face plate, and a plug disclosing a preferred form of the instant inventive concept.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 disclosing the face plate of the instant invention.

FIGURE 5 is a similar plan View taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 disclosing the face of the plug disassociated from the outlet box; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the interior of a telephone connection box, which may be used in association with the instant invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detal and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is generally indicated at 10 the wall of a hotel room, motel room, rooming house room, or other furnished dwelling, ofice, or place of business or residence. The wall includes the usual facing, and has a plurality of wall studs 11 therein. A face plate 16 is suitably positioned over an electrical outlet box 13, in any desired localty, and is adapted to be used in plugging in an electrical appliance such, for example, as a television set. A telephone connection box 1351 is also positioned on or within the wall 10 at a point remote from the outlet box 13. A line 14 extends to the telephone box 13z. In the instant invention as herein shown, the outlet box 13 which contains the usual electrical Connector 15, is closed by the face plate 16, and has, illustratively, two female sockets 17 each of which is provided with a pair of openings 18 adapted for the reception of a conventional two prong plug. Face plate 16 is conice ventionally held in position by means of a centrally located screw 19. Screw 19, as best shown in FIGURE 3, normally extends entirely through the electrical Connector 15, which, it is to be noted, is supplied with electrical current in conventional manner through wires 200.

An important element of the instant invention resides in the provision of a three prong plug 20, which is provided with the usual two prougs 21, which engage in the openings 18, and normally a third prong, positioned below and intermediate the prongs 21. In accordance with the instant invention, however, the third prong is removed and has substituted therefor a suitable plastic or other dielectric material pin 22. The pin which takes the place of the conventional ground pin, engages in a central bore 23 in the screw 19, which is of a special type and has a bore extending the entire length thereof from its head to the portion which extends through the electrical connector 15.

A wire 23a extends from plug 20 to the electrical appliance, illustratively a television set, which may then be located in any desired position.

Secured to the back of electrical Connector 15 is a bracket 25 which is preferably constructed of insulating material, and which has an inwardly extending portion 26, upon which are mounted a pair of contact arms 27 and 28, which are of resilient material, and which normally contact each other. When the arms are in contact a circuit is closed from a wire 29 connected to contact 27 and a wire 30 connected to contact 28. These wires, as best shown in FIGURE l extend interiorly of the wall facing 10, and, if the apparatus is installed after the construction of the room, and tearing out the wall tacing to perforate the studs 11 would be too difiicult or expensive, are extended outwardly through openings 31 adjacent the baseboard 32 of the wall, and possibly beneath a carpet 33, and thence interiorly of the wall through an opening 34 to the telephone connection box 13a. As best shown in FIGURE 6, the interior of telephone box 13 includes a plate 35 having five screws 36, 37, 38 and 39, and 40 therein, all of which are conventional, and all of which are employed in the connection of a telephone. The upper screws 36 and 37 may be connected to the wires 29 and 39, and, when a circuit is closed through the contact arms 27 and 28, an alarm will be passed through the wires 14 to the telephone switchboard or any other desired locality. Under some conditions it will be understood that, as best shown in FIGURE 2, rather than connectng the spring contact arms 27 and 28 to a telephone box 1311, the same may be connected by means of the same wires 2.9 and 30 to an alarm 45, which may be positioned either interiorly or exteriorly of the wall, or which may be positioned within the room or a point remote therefrom, and which alarm may be either audible or visual as desired.

In the use and operation of the device it will be understood that when the plug 20 is inserted into the upper female receptacle or plug 17, the pin 22 passes through the bore 23 in screw 19 and penetrates between the contact arms 27 and 28, thus breaking the circuit established between wires 29 and 30, so that no alarm is actuated. However, immediately upon Withdrawal of the plug 20 for any purpose such, for example, as that of illicitly removing the appliance connected to the plug 20, contact arms 27 and 28 through their normal resiliency engage each other to establish a circuit to the alarm either at the switchboard or any other locality. As previously mentioned, the alarm circuit may be carried through the telephone wires, with the permission of the telephone company, or alternatively, may lead to an auxliary alarm located in any desired locality.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved alarm system which accone plishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great p'actical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereirbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interprcted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

An alarm system of the character described comprising an outlet box which is adapted to be mount ed in fixed position in an opening through a wall with the open outer end thereof disposed substantially flush with the outer surface of the wall, an electrical Connector Secured in fixed position in said outlet box adjacent the open end thereof, a pair of electrcal conductors connected to said connecter, a face plate, means by which said face plate is removably secured in position closing the open end of said outlet box and the opening in said wall; said means comprising an elongated screw which is inserted through an opening in said face plate and is threaded through an aligned bore in said connecter with the inner end of said screw extending out through the rear face of said connector, said screw being provided with an axial bore which extends from end to end thereof; a bracket Secured to the rear face of said Connector, a pair of normally engaging spring contact arms which are Secured to said bracket in axial alignment with the said axial bore in said screw, a pair of electrical conductors by which said contact arms are adapted to be connected to a signalling device; an outlet socket which is carried by said Connector and extends out through an opening in said face plate, an outlet plug having a pair of spaced outwardly extending prongs which are adapted to be inserted into a pair of complementary apertures in said socket, a pair of electrical conductors by which said prongs are adapted to be connected to an electrical applance; an elongated dielectric pin which is Secured to and extends outwardly from said plug and is adapted to be inserted through the said axial bore in said screw and between the free ends of said spring contact arms when said prongs are inserted into the said apertures in said socket, thereby separating said spring contact arms and breaking the electrical connection between said arms and said signalling device.

References Cited by the Exaniner UNITED STATES PATENTS 227,141 5/80 Watson 179-5 308566 11/84 Lockwood 340-275 X 783,399 2/05 Blank 340-276 933,4l2 9/09 Baker 340-276 1,067,407 7/13 Cobb 200-51.1 1,312,191 8/19 McDonnell 340--280 1,825,208 9/31 Rumble 200-51.1 2,405 ,7 35 8/ 46 Crockett 200-51.1 2,799,852 7/57 Barnes 340-280 3,090,948 5/ 63 Cremer 340-280 NEIL C. READ, Prima'y Exam'rer. 

